As costly as a 3-1 World Cup qualifying loss at Costa Rica on Friday was to the United States
national team, things could be much, much worse.

The U.S. is in far better shape than Mexico heading into a qualifier on Tuesday in Crew Stadium,
even with the Americans missing forward Jozy Altidore and two other potential starters because of
yellow-card suspensions and midfielder Michael Bradley because of a sprained left ankle.

The Americans arrived yesterday afternoon to a cheering group of fans at Port Columbus. Crew
Stadium is a partisan palace for the U.S., which has beaten Mexico there in three straight
qualifiers.

After the loss on Friday, there might be no better place for the Americans (4-2-1 in final-round
qualifying) to regroup, beat their rival and, potentially, secure a spot in next year’s World Cup
in Brazil. A win over Mexico coupled with a win or a tie by Honduras against Panama would clinch a
spot for the U.S.

“There have been a lot of venues that have been good to us, as well,” said U.S. forward Clint
Dempsey, who converted a penalty kick for his team’s goal on Friday. “But as far as World Cup
qualifying games and getting the right results against our rivals, Columbus has been our savior.”&
amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>

For Mexico, another loss wouldn’t deliver a knockout blow but would likely leave the Mexicans in
danger of missing the World Cup for the first time since it was banned from the 1990 tournament for
using overage players on a youth national team.

Mexico is 1-1-5 and in fourth place among the six teams competing in final-round qualifying.
Only the top three will earn trips to Brazil. The fourth-place team must win a playoff with Oceania
regional champion New Zealand to advance.

Yesterday, hours after Honduras handed Mexico only its second home loss in qualifying history,
the Mexican federation announced it had fired coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre.

De la Torre’s replacement, assistant Luis Fernando Tena, coached Mexico to a gold medal at the
2012 Olympics. Tena will be charged with righting a listing ship in rough waters.

Mexico will face arguably its two stiffest tests, on Tuesday in Columbus and at first-place
Costa Rica, in its final three qualifiers.

“Mexico are now in a desperate position,” said longtime soccer broadcaster Ian Darke, who will
call Tuesday’s game for ESPN. “They’ll either be like cornered tigers or they’re really not that
good and the table isn’t lying and their confidence is shot to bits. We’ll find out what they’ve
got and what character they’ve got on Tuesday night because they really are in a hole now.”

The U.S., which won 12 straight before Friday’s loss, must plug leaks, as well. Bradley, the
team’s best two-way midfielder and arguably its most valuable player, left San Jose’s Estadio
Nacional on crutches. Altidore had scored in five straight games before Friday but was suspended
because of a foul late in second-half stoppage time.

Midfielder Geoff Cameron and defender Matt Besler will sit because of an accumulation of yellow
cards, as well. Five more players are carrying yellow cards and will be suspended after one more.
In response, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann added midfielders Joe Corona, Brad Davis and Jose Torres,
and defender Clarence Goodson to his roster last night.

“We’re going to have to have guys step up,” U.S. goalie Tim Howard said.

Dispatch reporter Adam Jardy contributed to this story.

smitchell@dispatch.com

@smitchcd

3-0 vs. Mexico

Highlights of the United States’ three wins over Mexico in World Cup qualifiers in Crew Stadium,
all by 2-0 scores:

Feb. 28, 2001: Josh Wolff came off the bench for a goal and an assist to lead the
United States to victory before a crowd of 24,624.

Sept. 3, 2005: Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley scored second-half goals within
five minutes of each other before a crowd of 24,685.

Feb. 11, 2009: Michael Bradley scored two goals, late in the first half and in
second-half stoppage time, before a crowd of 23,776.